Abstract

A simple template-free thermal chemical route has been developed to prepare InPnanotubes with zinc blende structure by controlling the reaction temperature and flowing gas. The synthesized InPnanotubes are single-crystalline, free from defects and dislocations, and partially filled with In. The presence of metallic indium at tips of and within the synthesized InPnanotubes indicated a vapor–liquid–solid mechanism for the formation of InPnanotubes. The synthesized InP single-crystalline nanotubes grew along direction. The synthesized InPnanotubes have a uniform outer diameter of 50–60 nm and a wall thickness of 7–10 nm. The photoluminescence spectrum at room temperature exhibits a great shift from the bulk band gap of 1.35 eV to high energy of 1.49 eV.